A girlfriend recently told me about this challenge called 1001 Things. Everyday you are to write down what you are thankful for..things that make you smile or warm your heart. I think I’m gonna do it, we’ll see how faithful I stay to it. Joy is a choice, each morning you have to wake up and choose to see the glory and the awe in every day.
My list for today:
The hole in the wall coffee shop, iced coffee, plaid flannels, bronzer, the mountains, the way the weather gives me a gorgeous warm beautiful day before a big snow, stopping to pet a puppy…sigh
“Wagon Wheel” plays with the sound of a thunderstorm in the background and I’m snuggled up in the middle of the bed next to the sweetest American bulldog, Zoey, you will ever meet…it’s beautiful, peaceful, and I feel FULL.
I’m on a mini vaca, well at least that’s how I’m choosing to look at it. A week away from Boulder, in a HOME; where the kitchen has every utensil I could ever need, the pantry is full, and love and kindness hangs on the walls. So, yesterday afternoon I was reading my Bible at the kitchen table (oh, it’s the small things really) and wanted to share a bit of what I found. Matthew 20:26-28. It’s about leadership. A real leader has a servant’s heart. In leading others, you are ultimately serving them. And to effectively lead you must take those hearts you are leading and put them before yourself. I love this verse as it turns the tables on what we generally think of when we define leadership. Ahh I’m so in love with how the Bible does that to me. Today I went for a 5+ mile bike ride. Ten minutes in, it started to pour. It was absolutely INVIGORATING. After I made myself an egg white omelet with roma tomatoes, onions, and cheese. The aroma of the blended ingredients swirled around the kitchen and lingered. Heavenly.
Feeling so full and content on this night, alone in a big house. God has so gently reminded me what is truly important in life and put things in perspective. One: EVERYTHING happens for a reason, even if you can’t see why right away. Two: you CAN”T make it through life without girlfriends. A true friend is a soul mate. I have felt so loved and so cherished by old friends and new ones these past couple of days. Life and happiness is simply better when shared with others. Three: it’s all about choices. I have the power to choose joy and see the good, and so I WILL.
Oh, and I am also madly in love with the way music doesn’t hurt when it hits you.
I have fallen madly in love…
This Wednesday night a group of us girls spend the entire evening out on the candle lit deck eating, drinking, hula-hooping, dancing, coloring, singing…ahh it was beautiful. Music and laughter swirled around the deck and through the trees. Everything was carefree. We were loving summer, loving each other, and loving life. I know it sounds awful and so cliché but let’s be honest, I am the biggest sap you will ever meet but I mean it wholeheartedly when I say ‘love’. I am so grateful for the beautiful people I am blessed to call my friends. I am constantly reminded to be appreciative of nature’s peace and beauty. I have fallen, fallen hard for summer and for my world in this little hidden valley.
You used to without fail tuck me in every night after saying our extended version of Now I Lay Me…you never failed to leave the house without kissing me good day to tell me you love me…you’ve never failed to tell me “Be safe” when I hang up the phone…and Dad, you have never failed me. I am SO incredibly blessed, thankful, and proud to call this man my father; a man who has shown me what LOVE is by the way he treats my mother and his two girls, a man of such high INTEGRITY, now a man who has exemplified what it means to truly live in FAITH with an ever strengthening testimony, an HONEST man who instilled in me the value of one’s word, a man who welcomes his wrinkles because well “wrinkles go where SMILES have been”. I hope this Father’s Day was filled with smiles. I love you Dad, Happy Father’s Day.
Ahh, it finally feels like SUMMER! You can really tell it’ here when you get a nice little behind the knee sweat after sitting outside for all of five minutes! Hah!
First, over Memorial Day weekend my awesome town of Boulder holds an annual Boulder Creek Fest. It’s this festive little fair/carnival event along the creek that offers every assortment of greasy yet irresistible fair food (my vice being funnel cake, ahh heavenly), local vendor booths, and even some awesome rides and games. A group of us from my apartment complex walked down to the Fest and spent the afternoon amongst the madness. They had live music and the atmosphere was just awesome. Immediately after spotting this jumbo trampoline/bungee skyrocketing ride I had to do it. There were no questions, if there was one things I HAD to do at the Creek Fest it was get on this jumbo trampoline. I think Sarah and I managed to be the only 20 yr olds in line. I admit I did have reservations about the entire unit of metal bars collapsing in as I stepped up onto the trampoline…that wouldn’t be embarrassing. This slingshot bungee jump ROCKED my world. I haven’t laughed that hard in soooo long, and man it felt so good. I could barely catch my breath between screaming and laughing. Exhilarating. Well worth my 9 bucks, and let me suggest if you ever run into one of these extreme trampoline slingshot bungee cord things…DO IT! The Boulder Creek Fest was the perfect way to welcome summer!
The girlies
TOO MUCH FUN!
Now in the full swing of summer I’ve been filling my days with school in the mornings, a run here and there, trying (emphasis on TRYING) to get a tan, and slowly starting to work. Last Thursday I took a jazz class down in Denver. It felt so good to dance again, but wow are my legs out of shape haha. I will start teaching at the studio after their end of the year recital…SO pumped to be teaching dance again! Training for student ministry is still in progress and is going very well! I have homework every week that brings me closer to God and is molding my heart into a role model for these kids. It’s an absolute thrill!
To be continued…
